ABRI does what people desire: Legislator<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"Politics and the Armed Forces in Indonesia are
\nso close while in many other countries the two are separated. Is
\nIndonesia's Armed Forces' involvement in politics regulated in
\nthe politics of (state ideology) Pancasila?\"<\/p>\n
The question was posed by Bottaza from Turkey, one of 66
\nforeign students invited to a meeting with members of the House
\nof Representatives Commission IX for culture and education. The
\nmeeting was presided over by Muhammad Affandi of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) faction.<\/p>\n
Sadiman, also from ABRI's faction, responded to Bottaza's
\nobservation by saying that ABRI's involvement in politics is
\nsomething that has been determined by national consensus.<\/p>\n
\"Its involvement has long been national consensus, at least
\nfor the past 36 years,\" he said. \"ABRI acts on the behalf of the
\npeople and not the government. It will do whatever the people
\ndesire.\"<\/p>\n
He said that the presence of ABRI representatives in the House
\nis stipulated in Law No. 2\/1985. He said ABRI members in the
\nHouse are appointed, and not elected through general elections
\nlike members from the three political contestants: the ruling
\nGolkar, the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nnationalist Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
\"The number of the Armed Forces faction representatives will
\nbe reduced from 100 to 75 in the upcoming election,\" Sadiman was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
The 66 foreign exchange students come from various countries,
\nincluding the United States, Australia, Hungary, Japan, Korea and
\nTurkey. They are currently enrolled in the University of
\nIndonesia's School of Letters.<\/p>\n
According to Muhammad Affandi, Indonesia's youths are more
\nrational in facing the challenges of globalization. Muhammad,
\nhowever, did not specify any particular method or challenge.<\/p>\n
A student from Poland, whom Antara identified as Carolina,
\nquestioned why the University of Indonesia has only a Javanese
\nlanguage and literature program when there are many other native
\nlanguages and dialects in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Muhammad answered by saying that currently there are only
\nexperts in Javanese literature. \"We hope, however, to soon
\nestablish programs for the study of other native languages,\"
\nMuhammad said. (14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-does-what-people-desire-legislator-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}